WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue football team has accepted an invitation to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPNU.

The Boilermakers (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten - fourth in Leaders Division) will face a Big XII opponent that likely won't be announced until after tonight's BCS Selection Show.

Purdue will play in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2006 and 2007. The Boilermakers defeated Western Michigan 37-32 in the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit.

"I am happy for and proud of the 20 seniors on our team," Purdue athletics director Morgan Burke said. "When we were sitting 3-6, having lost five straight games, many people gave up on this group. But those seniors - and other leaders in the locker room - didn't quit and didn't let their teammates quit. Their backs were against the wall, and they worked extremely hard to win three straight games and earn the reward of postseason play.

"We are thrilled to be heading to Texas, where we have been multiple times for bowl games. Purdue has a lot of alums in the Lone Star State, including more than 13,000 within 250 miles of the Metroplex, so my hunch is there will be a lot of gold and black at the Cotton Bowl. Our goal is for the players and coaches to have a great trip and, obviously, to win the game."

Tickets for the Heart of Dallas Bowl are priced at $75 and can be ordered through the Purdue Athletic Ticket Office anytime on-line or by phone (494-3194 or 800-49-SPORT) or in-person from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The John Purdue Club and Purdue Alumni Association have partnered to create an Official Purdue Bowl Tour. For more information, click here or call the Bowl Tour hotline at 1-888-471-3032.

The Heart of Dallas Bowl was introduced Oct. 4, 2012, after previously being known as the Ticket City Bowl its first two years. Texas Tech defeated Northwestern 45-38 in 2011, and Houston defeated Penn State 30-14 in 2012.

Built in 1921, the Cotton Bowl Stadium is one of the most storied and historic sporting venues in the country. In 2008, work was completed on a multi-million dollar renovation that included new seating, turf, facilities, concessions, restrooms, state-of-the-art high definition video board and new sound system. Only the Rose Bowl has hosted more collegiate bowl games.

Purdue has played in 16 bowl games all-time, with a 9-7 record. The Boilermakers have played in Texas bowl games six times previously, going 2-0 in the Alamo Bowl (San Antonio - wins in 1997 and 1998), 1-0 in the Bluebonnet Bowl (Houston - win in 1979) and 1-2 in the Sun Bowl (El Paso - win in 2002, losses in 2001 and 2004).